This is the new seasonal from Mill Street, and I was lucky to have it on at a brewmaster's dinner, hosted by Joel Manning. Joel explained that alongside using raw pumpkin in the mash, this beer used six malts (including chocolate, caramel and many others I can't remember), cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, ginger and vanilla. The vanilla was used to reduce the heat from the ginger. The pump clip they're using for this is absolutely bitchin'.

The appearance is classic pumpkin ale - as a polished clear orange supports a finger of creamy white head. I'd say that the body is probably the perfect colour for this type of beer, as it errs to the redder and richer end of the spectrum, and has some nice reddish tones when held up to the light. The head shows good retention throughout, laying down a few streaky fingers of lace as it settles to a film, which is easily bulked up by a swirl of the glass.

Aroma was initially subdued, but became more apparent as the beer warmed. Raw pumpkin greets the nose, along with a motley, but not overplayed, assortment of spices. Beneath that are some vague hints of brown sugar, pale malt and chocolate, but there's no misaking what type of beer this is. Overall, though, its certainly not the all out assault of some pumpkin beers, so my hopes are up that this may actually be well made.

The flavour is pretty neat. Nice raw pumpkin throughout. Some light, sweet malts underneath, and you do occasionally notice the chocolate malt that Joel said was used in the recipe. The spicing is great, and perfectly judged. Cinnamon and nutmeg come through the strongest in the finish, but you can sense the allspice underneath. A warming ginger presence in the tail is cut by some light vanilla. What I like is that it manages to integrate all the different elements of a pumpkin beer without becoming a cliché, and turning into a sweet, heavily spiced mess. There's a lot of subtlety and balance in this brew, which I'd put closer to a Post Road than a Pumking, because its more in the traditional style than an attempt to recreate a thanksgiving dessert. The body is medium-light at first, but leaves a smooth and creamy aftertaste. Its about par for the style, though I do like the finish.

If there's such a thing as a sessionable pumpkin ale, this could be it. Its carefully crafted, well-balanced and still tastes like a beer, which is often a problem for some of the spice bombs out there. I'll definitely be getting more of this before it runs out.

Much spicier than many of its compatriots, but a thoroughly enjoyable pumpkin ale! Enjoyed on tap at the Kick-Off in Waterloo, its first year travelling outside the eponymous Toronto brew pub.

Colouring a dark clear orange-brown with decent foam and head retention. Very aromatic: cloves, pepper and pumpkin pie spices. I really liked the flavour, although it was definitely heavier on the pumpkin pie spice than the pumpkin fruit. Pleasant notes of vanilla as well. Would have liked to also trial a blend with a pint of Cobblestone, but missed my chance and now will have to wait until next year...

The beer poured a very clear dark brownish orange with an inch thick tan head. The head died down to a half an inch or so but retained completely until the end of the session. A little bit of lacing was apparent.

The initial hard hitting cinnamon smell was impossible to miss. Fortunately the pumpkin smell was not over powering what-so-ever. It is very easy to have a few in a single night; it's great because I haven't been able to find this beer in individual bottles. Other smells that come to mind are chili and caramel toffee.

The taste from roasted malts were immediately present along with spicy hops and cinnamon flavours, and (you guessed it), pumpkin and spices. More sweet and malty, and spicy characters than pumpkin, however.

The beer sat well on the palate. The alcohol percentage sits at a standard 5%, with only a bitter spiciness left over that's not overpowering either. The body felt medium to full.

Nightmare on Mill Street is a stylish pumpkin ale refreshing for its style. A modest beer that doesn't play on the novelty of the pumpkin part of this stylish ale and alternatively, proves that a beer of can show off other robust flavours and components of this classic seasonal style.

T - I was a bit concerned that the spices would dominate, but they remained contained offering up a nice balance between pumpkin and nutmeg and vanilla ice cream. A sweet sugary graham flavour lingers alongside the buttery malts.

M - Medium bodied, smooth and wet with a sticky finish.

O - I really enjoyed this pumpkin ale. There's a unique creamy vanilla flavour that comes across on the finish. Although the spicing came across strong on the nose, it was nicely balanced and easily sessioned. A quality brew indeed.

Shared a bottle with our Thanksgiving dinner get-together.Pours an orange color, bubbly foam, quickly disappeared, no lace.The aroma is a bit hoppy, and some pumpkin pie spice, ginger and cinnamon. All of same flavors, maybe a bit of actual pumpkin taste as well.Average mouthfeel, high carbonation.Good, but there are better examples of the style.